One of the U.S.’s most academically demanding industries is nuclear power. S. Navy. An enlisted sailor who has completed extensive training at the Naval Nuclear Power School and its Nuclear Power Training Unit is referred to as a Navy nuclear power technician, or “Navy nuke.” Navy nuclear technicians work in a variety of general positions both on land and at sea on nuclear-powered vessels and submarines. Being a nuclear technician in the Navy can occasionally be both challenging and fulfilling at the same time.
Navy Advanced Programs Test, or NAPT, scores of sailors chosen for nuclear power training show they have strong aptitude. Navy nuclear technicians can pursue three distinct career paths, or ratings: machinists mate, electricians mate, and electronics technician, nuclear (ETN). While ETN Navy sailors are on the technical specialties career path, Navy MMs and EMs work in the services engineering and hull career fields.
Despite the impressive aptitude scores of all those admitted, the Navy nuclear power school graduation rate of only 80% is evidence that Navy Nuke training is regarded by the Nuclear Field as being rigorous. Navy nuclear training programs equip sailors to work in maritime-intensive professions.
You’ll receive some of the most cutting-edge training the military has to offer as a Navy nuclear technician. Navy nuclear technicians have access to excellent educational opportunities and can quickly earn college credits in a variety of subjects, including physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Additionally, program participants are swiftly advanced after their training is complete, and career advancement opportunities as a Navy nuclear power technician are excellent. When applicable, the Navy pays nuclear technicians special duty assignment pay in addition to enlistment and reenlistment bonuses.
Navy nuclear technicians are stationed on ships or submarines for a greater portion of their time than they are on land. Before receiving a shore assignment, a Navy nuclear technician frequently serves more than four years at sea. Navy nuclear technicians can put in long hours because nuclear power plants on ships need constant upkeep and attention. Maintaining a family and home life may be challenging for Navy nuclear technicians due to the length of time they spend stationed on ships and during deployments.
According to ACE, enlisted Navy students who complete the Navy’s nuclear power training programs graduate with 77 semester hours of college credit. The Navy also provides nuclear technicians with crucial certifications to improve their employment prospects after leaving the service. Excellent post-career job prospects in a variety of nuclear technology fields are available to trained and certified Navy nuclear technicians.
The Nuclear Energy Institute, or NEI, claims that all of its member businesses and organizations are actively looking to hire Navy nuclear technicians to fill a number of critical job openings. In fact, according to NEI, veterans make up 21% of the nuclear power industry’s workforce. According to the official Navy website, nuclear engineers are in high demand once they have finished serving because of the top-notch training they received while serving.
- Nuclear engineers have a rewarding job as they help the world find more ways to produce electricity.
- Like most engineers, nuclear engineers are offered competitive salaries.
- Nuclear engineers have lots of opportunity for advancement and progression.
What does a nuclear engineer do?
Nuclear engineers work to discover and develop new applications for nuclear energy, which is used in energy production, medical treatment, and military defense. They frequently create procedures, tools, and systems for working with radioactive materials as well as techniques for disposing of nuclear waste safely. Solving issues with nuclear reactor cores and shielding as well as overseeing the operation of nuclear plant monitoring equipment may be part of a career in nuclear engineering.
Pros and cons of being a nuclear engineer
You can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the field by evaluating every aspect of being a nuclear engineer. You can use this information to consider the positive and negative aspects of working as a nuclear engineer. Here are the pros and cons to consider:
Pros of being a nuclear engineer
You might enjoy being a nuclear engineer for a variety of reasons, including:
Nuclear power is a source of clean and renewable energy. As a result, your work as a nuclear engineer may help develop a more environmentally friendly way to produce the energy required to run our society. Working as a clean energy provider at a nuclear facility may appeal to you if you are concerned about the environment and climate change.
The medical sector is one that employs nuclear engineers. Treatments for diseases such as cancer rely on radiation therapy. Working as a nuclear engineer in the medical industry allows you to contribute to projects like maintaining medical equipment and assisting with the creation of new technologies to enhance patient care.
Nuclear technology is beneficial in a broad range of fields. In addition to nuclear power, nuclear technology is used in the defense sector, agriculture, and medicine. This gives you numerous chances to select a career path with credentials that match your interests, capabilities, and needs.
Despite being largely safe, nuclear technologies such as nuclear power contain some potentially dangerous components. When using nuclear technologies, nuclear engineers play a crucial role in developing and maintaining safeguards. This enables society to take advantage of the benefits that technology offers while also defending against potential threats.
Even though nuclear power and other nuclear-related emergencies are uncommon, their effects can be severe, making it crucial that they receive prompt and expert attention when they do happen. You can assist with efforts to repair and maintain equipment as a nuclear engineer. If you decide to pursue a career in nuclear engineering, you might be able to assist in emergency response operations, reducing the effects of emergencies and safeguarding nearby communities.
Cons of being a nuclear engineer
It’s advantageous to think about any potential disadvantages of the career when deciding whether to become a nuclear engineer so you can make a well-informed choice. Some common potential downsides include:
Because nuclear engineering is a sophisticated field, extensive formal education is necessary. A bachelor’s degree is typically required for entry-level positions in nuclear engineering, while advanced positions frequently call for a master’s or doctorate. The schoolwork and subsequent professional work may also be mentally taxing and necessitate intense concentration and effort to succeed. Because of the difficult educational requirements and the knowledge you acquire, you may become a valuable employee.
Nuclear engineering is a highly competitive field. This may be influenced by a number of variables, such as the high potential salary, the significance of the work, and the high standards for applicants. Due to this, it might be difficult for newcomers to the field to find employment. However, professionals who thrive in competitive environments may find that the level of competition in the nuclear engineering sector keeps them motivated and striving to improve.
While many nuclear engineering positions are found in laboratories or other static environments, some of these positions require significant travel. For instance, a nuclear engineer in the defense industry who travels to military bases with nuclear capabilities or a nuclear engineer working as an inspector at nuclear facilities may move around the nation or the world while conducting their work. Even though some nuclear engineers may not like long trips, if frequent travel appeals to you, you might decide to look for a job that involves it.
Although not all nuclear engineering fields have significant safety measures in place, some jobs still require you to work with nuclear material. In the event of an accident or malfunction, this could pose serious risks. It could also have long-term effects from prolonged minor exposure. It’s crucial to comprehend and abide by all safety regulations when working in nuclear engineering. This enables you to lessen your exposure to radiation concerns in order to lessen the potential risks they pose.
Is a Nuclear Engineering Degree Worth It?
FAQ
What are the disadvantages of being a nuclear engineer?
The cost incurred to become a nuclear engineer is the clear professional disadvantage. To guarantee admission to a prestigious higher education institution, a person must achieve top results throughout their educational career. Like many scientific careers, future success is greatly influenced by the degree attained.
Is becoming a nuclear engineer worth it?
The highest 10 percent of nuclear engineers earn more than $185,550 on average, so as you gain experience in this field, your income is likely to increase.
Are nuclear engineers happy?
Nuclear engineers are below average when it comes to happiness. We ask millions of people participating in our ongoing survey at CareerExplorer how satisfied they are with their careers. It turns out that nuclear engineers are 2 percent happy with their careers. 9 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 24% of careers
What is it like being a nuclear engineer?
To convert nuclear energy and radiation into useful applications, nuclear engineers investigate and create new methods, apparatus, and technologies. They discover ways to use radioactive materials for commercial and medical applications, such as producing electricity for cities and communities and using radiological equipment for medical imaging.
